It is official. Noted ad man V.A. Shrikumar Menon will helm the Mohanlal-MT project based on based on the Jnanpith winner’s classic novel Randamoozham. B.R. Shetty, the UAE-based Indian businessman, is investing Rs.1,000 crore (USD 150 million) to produce India’s biggest-ever motion picture, The Mahabharata, reports the Press Trust of India.

Mohanlal, who will be playing the lead, posted this video on Facebook. The actor says, ‘like many of us, I grew up to the tales of the Mahabaratha. I consider myself lucky to be named to play Bheema who is the pivotal character in Randamoozham. I am thankful to everyone who believes in me.’

The cast would have the best of talent from Indian cinema, as well as some big names from Hollywood. The technical crew would include some of the great names in world cinema, including some Academy Award winners. It will be produced in two parts and is scheduled to go on the floors by September 2018 for a release in early 2020. The second part will be released within 90 days of the first.

The film will be a coming together of the creme de la creme of Indian and global cinema in terms of cast and crew. ‘The film will be shot primarily in English, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu and will be dubbed into major Indian languages and leading foreign languages,’ a release from a company said.